THE EVENING STAR CAFÉ, Alexandria (Del Ray)

One look at The Evening Star Café’s menu and you’ll feel right at home. Located in the Del Ray section of Alexandria, The Evening Star Café is this popular community’s, neighborhood restaurant of choice, and for good reason. The menu is easy to read and honed to perfection by Chef Will Artley. Remember that name—he’s a Chef to watch. Recently, my wife and I sampled many of Chef Artley’s dishes and wondered after each one, how he could top what we just had. We started with sliced heirloom tomatoes with a tarragon pesto and get this—the tomatoes were from his own garden. Then came perfectly sautéed scallops with a creamy fava bean risotto, Maryland rockfish filet over eggplant gnocchi in a white corn sauce, grilled beef tenderloin over roasted garlic mashed potatoes, roasted grouper over a cold farro salad with raisins, cauliflower and chick peas. Each dish had a distinctive sauce that left you wanting more. You won’t believe what we had for dessert---a chocolate milkshake and a slice of an ice cream Snickers bar. The Evening Star Café has a definite family-friendly atmosphere encouraged by its personable general manager, Sean Alves. The star at The Evening Star is Chef Artley and his obvious passion for cooking and knowing what his customers like. The exact address of the restaurant is 2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. and the phone number for reservations is 703-549-5051. Check the website at www.eveningstarcafe.net.

PINZIMINI RESTAURANT -- The Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel

It’s amazing to see all of the new restaurants in the Ballston-Clarendon-Rosslyn-Shirlington areas of Arlington. I remember the days when the Hot Shoppe on Spout Run and The Alpine on Lee Highway were the destination restaurants of choice. Now, however, we have fine dining restaurants like Pinzimini’s in The Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel at 801 N. Glebe Road. Recently I ran into The Westin’s Nicole Charles and Orcun Turkay and then I got a call from their executive chef Graham Fontes, so I had to see what’s happening. Chef Graham prides himself on a menu that is farm to table—fresh ingredients from local farmers and ranchers and I soon found out what he was talking about. But first let me tell you about the best tasting oysters on the half shell I’ve ever had. Chef Graham flavors them with limoncello granite and they are absolutely scrumptious as are his charbroiled oysters with an herb parmesan butter. I also had to try his brick oven Margherita pizza and discovered it takes three days to make the dough and well worth the effort. Virginia’s Grayson Farms supplies the beef and pork which are free of hormones and antibiotics. Chef Graham’s beef filet entrée with a carmelized shallot mushroom ragu served over a root vegetable mash is outstanding. There are also pasta dishes and of course, Pinzimini’s signature grilled salmon and many more selections. For an unusual and refreshing dessert, try the heirloom tomato sorbet. For more information and reservations, call Pinzimini’s at 703-537-4201 and check the website at www.pinzimini.com

NATALIE’S ORCHID ISLAND JUICE COMPANY

Remember this name, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company and look for it in your grocery store. If you want to taste what real fruit juice should taste like, then Natalie’s should be on your shopping list. I have to say that until recently I was unaware of Natalie’s and honestly, I didn’t know how good a fruit juice could be. Natalie’s is a Florida based company where Marygrace Sexton, with her baby daughter Natalie at her side, started picking oranges in 1989. Natalie’s is now a full blown family business and Marygrace says what makes her juices different is that the oranges are squeezed the same day they’re picked. Natalie’s products include orange and grapefruit juices, honey tangerine, lemon, lime, lemonade and limeade. And, just recently they have added blackberry limeade and mango peach. Delicious. So, next time you’re shopping for a fruit juice, give Natalie’s a try. For more information, call 1-888-373-7444 and check the website at www.oijc.com.

BILLY MARTIN’s TAVERN in D.C.

Billy Martin’s Tavern at 1264 Wisconsin Ave. at N Street, is a 78 year old tradition in Georgetown. It’s a special institution in the District now run by the fourth generation, Billy A. Martin, Jr. In fact, Martin’s is where John F. Kennedy, who frequently dined there, proposed marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953 in Booth #3. Martin’s has been, and is, the home of many politicians and Washington celebrities, but has maintained the neighborhood tavern atmosphere. Many of its customers are Georgetown residents who walk to the restaurant. But Martin’s is more than its historical reputation. Along with the current owner, there are employees like host Bill Forte, server Nasirul Islam and others inside the kitchen---and outside who have been working there for years. A young manager, Chris Hollenbeck, who has been there for just a short time, told me how loyal and supportive Billy is to his employees. Be sure to say “hello” to the genial general manager, Mayu Horie. The menu is substantial with favorites on the weekends, including Fridays, such as slow roasted prime rib of beef. Another must is the crab cake platter and oysters on the half shell. There are lots of great sounding appetizers like artichoke cheese fritters and little taverns. The salads come in two sizes and the entrees are quite varied from meatloaf to pot roast to fish and chips to filet mignon to pasta. Save room for dessert, particularly the homemade bread pudding with a bourbon caramel sauce. I cannot praise Billy Martin’s Tavern enough! For more information and reservations, call 202-333-7370 and check the website at www.martins-tavern.com